Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) explained

We’ve mentioned before that Horizon 2020 is full of confusing acronyms. So many that we decided to open a dedicated page to explain everything. We will release a series of articles dedicated to explaining everything surrounding Innovative Training Networks (ITN) over the coming weeks. Before we get started with that specific topic, we decided to take another step back and look at the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions as a whole.

Types of MSCA

There are five schemes into which the MSCA are grouped: Research networks (ITN), Individual fellowships (IF), International and inter-sectoral cooperation through the Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE), Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes that finance fellowships involving mobility to or from another country and the European Researchers’ Night (NIGHT).

Research networks (ITN): support for Innovative Training Networks

There are three different types of Innovative Training Networks: European Training Networks (ETN), European Industrial Doctorates (EID) and European Joint Doctorates (EJD). An ITN’s goal is to train a new generation of researchers, combining training from in and outside academia. ITNs give funding to universities, research centres and companies that propose a research training network. A grant will cover the recruitment and training of researchers, the research costs and management and overhead costs.

Individual fellowships (IF)

Individual fellowships are, as the name suggests, aimed at individual researchers. Experienced researchers looking to further their development and open to the idea of working abroad are encouraged to apply to this type of MSCA. There are two types of Individual Fellowships: European Fellowships and Global Fellowships. European Fellowships are held in the EU or associated countries and are open to researchers either coming to Europe or who are moving within Europe and last from one to two years. Global Fellowships fund secondments outside of Europe for researchers based in the EU or associated countries and last fro two to three years. A grant covers the cost of living, travelling and family.

International and inter-sectoral cooperation through the Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE)

Focusing on short-term exchanges of staff, RISE is meant for universities, research centres and companies. At least three partners from three different countries can proposal a joint project highlighting the networking opportunities, sharing of knowledge and the skills development of staff. This type of MSCA is not just aimed at experienced researchers; any staff at any career level can undertake a secondment.

Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes that finance fellowships involving mobility to or from another country (COFUND)

European Researchers’ Night (NIGHT)

Taking place each year on the last Friday in September, the NIGHT helps attract people to research. More than 30 countries are involved and the day is dedicated to showcasing what researchers really do for society.

We at accelopment offer support from the very beginning: Not only will we guide you through the application process by helping with the successful writing of the proposal and administrative tasks, but we will provide our support for the whole project life-time, advising in contract negotiations, setting up a project website, organising meetings, creating deliverables, providing useful templates and many other services.

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Based in Zurich, accelopment AG is a competent service provider in the public funding sector. accelopment assists universities, companies and other organisations in the acquisition of and participation in publicly funded innovation projects. The company specialises in European research, development and innovation support programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Eurostars. The focus is primarily on projects in the life sciences, information and communication technologies, the environment and energy sectors.